Weekly Torah Portion - Korach 5765

This week’s parashah, Korah, tells the story of rebellion against leadership. Korach leads a group to foment rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Their rebellion does not go well, to put it mildly.
What do we learn from this rebellion?
Rabbi Offel reflects on the “Balancing the Individual and the Communal”
Rav Kook writes on the role of [...]

Loss of a Great Scholar of Our Time

Shavuah tov. I just returned home from a wedding and teaching - a day full of joy, love and the promise of goodness in what is often a challenging world. The chatan and kallah (groom and bride) beamed, soaked up the love and joy surrounding them and had a great time. The party is [...]

A Tough Day In Israel - But Not Because of Terror

Today has been another difficult day in Israel. This afternoon a truck errantly crossed a track in the path of the Haifa-Be’er Sheva train. Apparently, the truck driver did not follow any of the posted instructions to stop and ignored the train’s whistle. The impact careened cars off the track and according to some [...]

Honoring a Pilot from Operation Magic Carpet

After the modern State of Israel was founded in 1948, Jews across much of the Arab world were persecuted. The Jews of Yemen suffered attacks, discrimination and threats to their lives. An effort was organized, called Operation Magic Carpet to rescue the Jewish community of Yemen and bring them to safety in Israel. Many people [...]

Biography of a great scholar - Abraham Joshua Heschel

My Jewish Learning has a main article this week on one of my favorite scholars, Abraham Joshua Heschel. Read about his life and his views on: sacred time, Judaism as a Way of Life and the Sabbath.
Go and Learn!

Hag Shavuot Sameach

Hag Shavuot Sameach - Happy Shavuot. May this z’man torateinu, z’man simchateinu (time of joyous receiving of the Torah) be filled with joy, learning and laughter for you and yours.

Updates to Links

I’ve updated some of the Israel/Palestine Peace Blogs links. I’ve added:
Bitter Lemons
Cal Tzedek
Dove’s Eye View
Israel Palestine Forum
Israeli-Palestinian Peace Group Page
Raising Yousuf: a diary of motherhood under occupation
Semitism.net - Pro-Jewish. Pro-Arab. Pro-Peace.
Let me know if you know of others to add.

Meals for the Hungry & Homeless with Dignity

Today I learned of an amazing restaurant soup kitchen in Jeruslame called Carmei Ha’ir. All who enter sit, dine and relax. When leaving those who can pay, pay. Payment is made to a box by the door. Some put notes of thanks and others put sheckels. Only those touching the box at that [...]

Transcript of IDF Radio Traffic on Jerusalem Day 1967

Here is a brief (and belated) post on Jerusalem Day. IsraCast has published an English trasnlation of the IDF radio traffic as the Israeli Army reached the Western Wall of the Temple.
Words echoing moments of joy from our past. I pray that they lead us again to moments of a lasting peace.

Great Religion Websites

Yesterday the Webby Awards were given out in New York. They award sites in a variety of categories, including a religion category. Here are some of the sites which got recognition for religion.
Category winner - Speaking of Faith sponsored by American Public Media
People’s voice winner in the category - Spirituality & Health
Nominees [...]